other-martial-arts
Katasukashi
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Katasukashi is an official sumo kimarite in which an inside arm grips or hooks near the shoulder root and pulls forward as the attacker opens the body. The clearest cue is that the inside hand catches high beneath the shoulder while the other hand guides the opponent down. Katasukashi works beneath the shoulder; Tottari fixes the arm with both hands, while Hikiotoshi is a more general pull-down. The practical English gloss “Under-shoulder swing-down” is a viewing aid rather than an official translation. Focus on the contact that causes the final movement and on whether the opponent is forced out, falls, or is thrown. Earlier exchanges may create the opening, but the kimarite names the action that actually decides the bout.
Overview
| Japanese | 肩すかし |
|---|---|
| Reading | かたすかし |
| Group | Twist-down techniques (捻り手) |
| English guide | Under-shoulder swing-down |
| Official no. | 49 |
What happens
The result is recorded when an inside arm grips or hooks near the shoulder root and pulls forward as the attacker opens the body.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action the inside hand catches high beneath the shoulder while the other hand guides the opponent down.
- Result an inside arm grips or hooks near the shoulder root and pulls forward as the attacker opens the body.
- Compare Katasukashi works beneath the shoulder; Tottari fixes the arm with both hands, while Hikiotoshi is a more general pull-down.
Similar techniques
Katasukashi works beneath the shoulder; Tottari fixes the arm with both hands, while Hikiotoshi is a more general pull-down. The related pages Sotomusō and Uchimusō offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Katasukashi is written 肩すかし and read かたすかし. It belongs to Twist-down techniques (捻り手); “Under-shoulder swing-down” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Katasukashi can emerge directly from the tachiai, after a prolonged exchange, or as a counter when posture and footing change. Left-right orientation, wrestler size, and camera angle can alter its appearance without changing the classification.
Statistics
The Japan Sumo Association table consulted on 12 September 2026 counted 1,760 Katasukashi results, 0.9% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 15th in that bounded dataset. This is a dated sample, not a timeless probability; check the association’s live page for later totals.
Sources
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